The state of the European Union has recently been the subject of critical and in-depth analysis by Mario Draghi, former President of the European Central Bank and one of Europe’s foremost economic thinkers. His report, The Future of European Competitiveness, has informed the European Commission’s strategic direction for its new mandate and serves as the foundation for a renewed plan to ensure Europe’s sustainable prosperity and global competitiveness. As Draghi notes, “the only way to become more productive is for Europe to radically change.”
The report identifies three central pillars for action: closing the innovation gap, implementing a joint decarbonisation and competitiveness plan, and strengthening security by reducing dependencies. Focused and coordinated efforts in these areas are expected to make Europe as competitive as Asia and the United States, and potentially position the EU as a global leader. Crucially, these efforts must be aligned with the Union’s core values: prosperity, equity, freedom, peace, and democracy within a sustainable environment.
However, a fundamental prerequisite for achieving these strategic objectives remains insufficiently addressed: the foundational role of the complex cognitive process of reading, which underpins functional literacy and critical thinking skills among European citizens.
It is our intention in this EURead analysis of the Draghi Report to demonstrate that without substantial investment in EU citizens through reading promotion from birth and throughout their lifespan, the EU’s competitiveness agenda will face significant obstacles. Functional illiteracy undermines the capacity for innovation, impedes informed participation in decarbonisation efforts, and leaves populations vulnerable to disinformation campaigns that threaten democratic institutions and security.
Recognizing the profound connection between reading, functional literacy, and human development from the earliest years of life is key to unlocking Europe’s potential. Reading forms and changes cognitive infrastructure upon which innovation, sustainable development, and democratic resilience are built. Comprehending and addressing this foundational issue is essential to achieving the ambitious goals outlined in the Draghi Report and to securing Europe’s future competitiveness.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Reading is foundational to Europe’s resilience and competitiveness
Europe’s long-term competitiveness depends on its ability to foster inclusive, skilled, and adaptable яocieties. As Mario Draghi’s Competitiveness Strategy for Europe (2024) highlights, strengthening the EU’s economic future requires bold, sustained investment in human capital.
Yet across Member States, access to meaningful early reading experiences remains fragmented and unequal. Without coordinated action, the EU risks entrenching disadvantage, increasing future public spending, and missing a vital opportunity to build cohesive, productive, and future-ready societies from the very start of life.
A European Reading Plan: strategic, inclusive, and future-proof
This report proposes a European Reading Plan as a high-impact, cost-effective mechanism to embed reading in early childhood systems across health, education, culture, and social protection. It directly supports the goals of the Competitiveness Strategy, advancing skills development, social inclusion, and resilience.
Shared reading in the early years builds the cognitive, emotional, and linguistic capacities that underpin learning, employability, wellbeing, and civic participation. The Plan addresses the skills gap at its root, while supporting inclusive growth, innovation, and social cohesion. It also provides a concrete tool for delivering on EU frameworks such as the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Child Guarantee, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Democracy Shield, and Cohesion Policy objectives.
Proven programmes, ready to scale
Successful initiatives across Europe and globally demonstrate that bookgifting, family engagement, and practitioner support can close literacy gaps and improve life chances. Through EURead and its Global Network for Early Years Bookgifting, a delivery infrastructure is already in place: tested, adaptable, and ready to scale in alignment with local systems and needs.
A strategic investment in Europe’s future
We propose an initial investment of €500 per child per year—equivalent to 0.19% of EU GDP—to establish a foundational reading infrastructure across Europe. This includes universal bookgifting from birth, mini-libraries in early years settings, professional training, and harmonised evaluation tools.
As shown by the OECD, UNESCO, and Nobel laureate economist James Heckman, early childhood interventions deliver some of the highest long-term returns in public spending—boosting educational outcomes, emotional wellbeing, workforce capacity, and reducing the need for remedial support.
A delivery-ready opportunity for Europe
A European Reading Plan offers a visible, scalable, and politically credible opportunity for the EU to lead on early investment and the implementation of fundamental rights. It would ensure that every child, in every region, benefits from early reading experiences.
Beyond enhancing productivity and resilience, the Plan affirms citizens’ rights to education, information, and cultural participation—as enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the UNCRC, the European Child Guarantee, and the European Pillar of Social Rights.
EURead and its Global Network stand ready to work with EU institutions, Member States, and civil society to deliver this vision—through proven models, strong local partnerships, and a shared commitment to equity, evidence, and opportunity.
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Reading: The Hidden Infrastructure of European Competitiveness. A reading promoter’s perspective on the Draghi report
Author: Valentina Stoeva, Reading Foundation (Bulgaria)
Author of the Chapter “The Rights-Based Approach: The Right to Read”: Eva Berghmans, Iedereen leest (Belgium)
